Like many women in their early 30s, I have a soft spot for the Target designer collaborations. I was fresh out of college when the first uber-trendy collection (Luella Bartley) debuted — and with entry-level income, it was as close to Rodeo Drive as I could get. The collaborations became cultural touchstones and my constant companions for the milestones of my 20s, from job interviews to first dates.
Ask ANY woman if she remembers her first Target-collabo purchase. Most will — down to the exact designer and item. For my friend Rachel, a Boston lawyer and improv performer, it was a Luella pale blue suede jacket with embellished zippers. “I loved how weird and idiosyncratic it was–it felt like a luxury item with its beautiful cherry-print lining,” Rachel said. “I remember wearing that jacket during a weekend trip to Chicago, and I felt very cool in it while walking around Wicker Park.”
For me, the first was a Luella Bartley “Sgt. Pepper” blazer — and I still love it.
But ever since the dismal performance of the x Neiman Marcus collection, Target’s recent forays into designer collections have been abandoned by former devotees. The recent Peter Pilotto collection was relegated to the clearance racks — a far cry from the hysteria that fueled the Missoni crash of 2011.
On Sunday, Target will attempt to reverse its fortunes with a collection from Joseph Altuzarra. It’s risky. It’s high-stakes. But it’s also a chance at redemption — and to re-capture women like me, who grew up wearing Target collaborations.
I’m headed to New Jersey this weekend specifically to shop the Altuzarra collection. I’ll share my on-site dispatches via Twitter on Sunday, plus a full review on Monday — including estimated resale value for Target collaborations on the consignment market.
Until then, here’s your moment of Zen:
